Apparatus and method for controlling built-in microphone  of portable terminal

ABSTRACT

An electronic device and a method implemented in the electronic device are provided. The method includes detecting, by a device detector, whether a wired external device coupled to the electronic device and including a wired external speaker further includes a wired external microphone; providing a signal, by the device detector, indicating whether the wired external device includes the wired external microphone; detecting, by a controller, a call establishment; and operating, by the controller, a built-in microphone to receive a voice sound if the signal from the device detector indicates that the wired external device does not include the wired external microphone and providing a voice signal received from a second electronic device to the wired external device so that the wired external speaker outputs the voice signal, wherein the built-in microphone and a built-in speaker of the electronic device are coupled to the controller via a COder-DECoder (CODEC).

PRIORITY

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 14/325,848, which was filed in the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office onJul. 8, 2014, which was a Continuation Application of U.S. applicationSer. No. 12/113,577, which was filed in the U.S. Patent & TrademarkOffice on May 1, 2008, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,774,863 issued on Jul. 8,2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to a Korean patentapplication filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on May 4,2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-43405, the entire contents of each ofwhich are incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controllinga built-in microphone of a portable terminal. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to an apparatus and method in which a built-inmicrophone of a portable terminal is controlled such that, when a callconnection event occurs for call reception/origination in the portableterminal connected with an earphone without a microphone, an outputaudio signal is output to the connected earphone and an input audiosignal is received through the built-in microphone.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, with the rapid development of portable terminals, a mobilephone providing wireless voice call and data exchange is regarded as anecessity of life. Conventional portable terminals have generally beenregarded as portable devices providing wireless calls. However, alongwith technical advances and introduction of the wireless Internet,portable terminals are now used for many purposes in addition totelephone calls or schedule management. For example, images can becaptured by using a digital camera included in a portable terminal.Further, the portable terminal provides a variety of functions such aswatching a satellite broadcasting program, games, Web surfing using thewireless Internet, watching video, listening to music, e-mail services,and so on.

In particular, a headset may be used to receive services in a publicplace by using a portable terminal capable of playing back video andmusic. When launched, the portable terminal generally includes a headsetso that a user can receive music and audio services through a speakerincluded in the headset. In addition, when a call is made by callconnection, a call service can be provided by receiving user's voicethrough a microphone included in the headset.

However, as high-quality sound can be provided with the continueddevelopment of the portable terminal, users are generally no longersatisfied with the quality of sound provided through the headsetincluded in the portable terminal. Thus, such a user must additionallypurchase a device for outputting high-quality sound according topersonal preference.

In general, the output device purchased by the user is an earphonewithout a microphone. In this case, when a call connection event occursfor call reception/origination in a state that the earphone without themicrophone is connected to the conventional portable terminal, in orderto make a call, the earphone connected to the portable terminal has tobe disconnected. In addition, the user inconveniently has to take offthe earphone from his or her ear. That is, to achieve the high-qualitysound, the user has to experience inconvenience during a callconnection.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aspect of the present invention is to address at least theabove-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at leastthe advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the presentinvention is to provide an apparatus and method for controlling abuilt-in microphone of a portable terminal.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod for controlling a built-in microphone of a portable terminal, inwhich a connection device is checked upon detecting a call connectionevent and whether to use the built-in microphone is determined accordingto the connection device.

Another aspect of the present invention is to provide an apparatus andmethod in which a built-in microphone of a portable terminal iscontrolled such that, when a call connection event occurs for callreception/origination in the portable terminal connected with anearphone without a microphone, an output audio voice signal is output tothe connected earphone and an input audio signal is received through thebuilt-in microphone.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an electronic device isprovided. The electronic device includes a built-in microphone; a devicedetector configured to detect whether a wired external device coupled tothe electronic device and including a wired external speaker furtherincludes a wired external microphone, and provide a signal indicatingwhether the wired external device includes the wired externalmicrophone; and a controller electrically coupled to the devicedetector, the controller, upon detecting a call establishment, beingconfigured to operate the built-in microphone to receive a voice soundif the signal from the device detector indicates that the wired externaldevice does not include the wired external microphone, and provide avoice signal received from a second electronic device to the wiredexternal device so that the wired external speaker outputs the voicesignal, wherein the built-in microphone and the built-in speaker arecoupled to the controller via a COder-DECoder (CODEC).

According to another aspect of the present invention, an electronicdevice is provided. The electronic device includes a built-inmicrophone; a Bluetooth communication module configured to detectwhether a wireless external device including a wireless external speakerfurther includes a wireless external microphone, and provide a signalindicating whether the wireless external device coupled to theelectronic device includes the wireless external microphone; and acontroller electrically coupled to the Bluetooth communication module,the controller, upon detecting a call establishment, being configured tooperate the built-in microphone to receive a voice sound if the signalfrom the Bluetooth communication module indicates that the wirelessexternal device does not include the wireless external microphone, andprovide a voice signal received from a second electronic device to thewireless external device so that the wireless external device outputsthe voice signal via the wireless external speaker included in thewireless external device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a methodimplemented in an electronic device is provided. The method includesdetecting, by a device detector, whether a wired external device coupledto the electronic device and including a wired external speaker furtherincludes a wired external microphone; providing a signal, by the devicedetector, indicating whether the wired external device includes thewired external microphone; detecting, by a controller, a callestablishment; and operating, by the controller, a built-in microphoneto receive a voice sound if the signal from the device detectorindicates that the wired external device does not include the wiredexternal microphone and providing a voice signal received from a secondelectronic device to the wired external device so that the wiredexternal speaker outputs the voice signal, wherein the built-inmicrophone and a built-in speaker of the electronic device are coupledto the controller via a COder-DECoder (CODEC).

According to another aspect of the present invention, a methodimplemented in an electronic device is provided. The method includesdetecting, by a Bluetooth communication module, whether a wirelessexternal device coupled to the electronic device includes a wirelessexternal microphone; providing a signal, by the Bluetooth communicationmodule, indicating whether the wireless external device coupled to theelectronic device includes the wireless external microphone; detecting,by a controller, a call establishment; and operating, by the controller,a built-in microphone to receive a voice sound if the signal from theBluetooth communication module indicates that the wireless externaldevice does not include the wireless external microphone and providing avoice signal received from a second electronic device to the wirelessexternal device so that the wireless external device outputs the voicesignal via the wired external speaker included in the wireless externaldevice.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other aspects, features and advantages of certainembodiments of the present invention will become more apparent from thefollowing detailed description when taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a structure of a portableterminal for detecting whether to use a built-in microphone depending onwhich connection device is used when a call connection event occurs,according to an embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determining whether touse a built-in microphone depending on which connection device is usedwhen a call connection event occurs in a portable terminal, according toan embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below withreference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description,well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail sincethey would obscure the invention in unnecessary detail.

The present invention relates to an apparatus and method in which abuilt-in microphone of a portable terminal is controlled such that, whena call connection event occurs for call reception/origination in theportable terminal connected with an earphone without a microphone, anoutput audio signal is output to the connected earphone and an inputaudio signal is received through the built-in microphone. The presentinvention will hereinafter be described with reference to FIG. 1.

In the present invention, an earphone is defined as a device that doesnot include a microphone and includes a speaker for outputting an outputaudio signal. A wireless earphone is defined as a device that does notinclude a microphone and includes a speaker for outputting an outputaudio signal by being wirelessly connected through a wireless connectionmethod such as Bluetooth®. A headset is defined as a device thatincludes both a microphone and a speaker. A wireless headset is definedas a device that includes both a microphone and a speaker, each of whichtransmits/receives an audio signal by being wireless connecting througha wireless connection method such as the Bluetooth. The headset or thewireless headset is also referred to as an ear microphone.

Referring to FIG. 1, the portable terminal of the present inventionincludes a controller 100, a connection device checker 102, a wirelessconnector 104, a communication unit 106, a memory 108, a connector 110,a COder-DECoder (CODEC) 112, a built-in speaker 114, and a built-inmicrophone 116.

The wireless connector 104 wirelessly transmits/receives an audio signalby connecting a wireless device (e.g., wireless earphone or wirelessheadset) under the control of the controller 100, and providesinformation on the connected wireless device to the connection devicechecker 102 at the request of the connection device checker 102. Thewireless connector 104 may use a Bluetooth communication technique forwireless connection. When the wireless connector 104 uses the Bluetoothcommunication technique, a general operation of Bluetooth communicationis performed in which a connectable Bluetooth device is searched forunder the control of the controller 100 and Bluetooth connection is madeby pairing if authentication is required. In the present invention, thewireless connector 104 is optional, and thus may not be provided.

In a receiving operation, the communication unit 106 decreases afrequency of a Radio Frequency (RF) signal received through an antenna,and then performs de-spreading and channel decoding on the receivedsignal. In a transmitting operation, the communication unit 106 performschannel coding and spreading on the received signal, increases thefrequency of the received signal, and then transmits the signal throughthe antenna. In addition, in order to connect a call, the communicationunit 106 receives or transmits a call connection request.

The memory 108 stores programs for controlling an overall operation ofthe portable terminal, application programs, and data (e.g., telephonenumbers, Short Message Service (SMS) messages, compressed image files,video, etc.).

Through a wired connection, the connector 110 may be physicallyconnected to a connector 132 of an earphone 130 including only a speaker134 or may be physically connected to a connector 142 of a headset 140including both a speaker 144 and a microphone 146. The connector 110 maybe composed of one socket that can connect both the earphone 130 and theheadset 140. Alternatively, the connector 110 may be composed of a firstsocket for connecting the earphone 130 and a second socket forconnecting the headset 140 so as to be respectively connected to aplurality of devices.

The CODEC 112 connected to the controller 100, the built-in speaker 114connected to the CODEC 112, and the built-in microphone 116 are providedas an audio input/output block used for a voice call. The CODEC 112converts Pulse Code Modulation (PCM) data provided from the controller100 into an analog audio signal and then transmits the analog audiosignal to the built-in speaker 114, or transmits the analog audio signalthrough the earphone 130 and the speaker 144 of the headset 140. Inaddition, the CODEC 112 converts an input audio signal received throughthe built-in microphone 116 or through the microphone 146 of the headset140 into data, and then transmits the data to the controller 100.

At the request of the controller 100, the connection device checker 102checks the wireless connector 104 so as to determine whether a wirelessearphone or a wireless headset is connected. In addition, the connectiondevice checker 102 checks the connector 110 so as to determine whetheran earphone or a headset is connected. Then, the connection devicechecker 102 provides the controller 100 with information on theconnected device.

Upon detecting a call connection event when a call connection request isreceived or transmitted, the controller 100 requests the connectiondevice checker 102 to send information on a connection device currentlyconnected, and receives information on the connection device from theconnection device checker 102 and thus selects a device forinputting/outputting an audio signal according to the connection device.

In other words, under the control of the controller 100, upon detectingthe call connection event, information on the connection devicecurrently connected is checked through the connection device checker102, and if the connection device is either an earphone or a wirelessearphone, an output audio signal is output to the connected earphone orthe wireless earphone, and the input audio signal is received byactivating the built-in microphone 116 of the portable terminal. If theinformation on the connection device is a headset (or wireless headset),audio signal is input/output by activating a speaker and a microphone ofthe headset (or wireless headset). If no connection device is connected,the audio signal is input/output by activating the built-in speaker 114and the built-in microphone 116 of the portable terminal. In addition,under the control of the controller 100, when the call connection eventoccurs, if the connection device information obtained by the connectiondevice checker 102 shows that two or more connection devices areconnected, the connection devices for providing services are selectedaccording to a predetermined priority. For example, if the connector 110has a plurality of connection sockets and detects the call connectionevent in a state that both an earphone and a headset are connected, thenthe audio signal is input/output by activating the speaker andmicrophone of the headset under the control of the controller 100.

Meanwhile, the controller 100 controls the connection device checker102. That is, the controller 100 may perform a function of theconnection device checker 102. The controller 100 and the connectiondevice checker 102 are described as being separately implemented in thepresent invention for explanation purposes only. Thus, in practice, theconnection device checker 102 may be incorporated into the controller100 or may be provided separately from the controller 100.

Now, a method of controlling a microphone of a portable terminalaccording to the present invention will be described with reference toFIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a flowchart illustrating a process of determiningwhether to use a built-in microphone depending on which connectiondevice is used when a call connection event occurs in a portableterminal, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 2, upon detecting a call connection event in step 200,information on a connected connection device is checked in step 202.

In step 204, existence of the connection device is determined accordingto the checking result of step 202. If the determination result of step204 shows that no connection device is connected, a built-in speaker anda built-in earphone are activated in step 208, so as to input/output anaudio signal.

If the determination result of step 204 shows that a connection deviceis connected, it is determined whether the connected connection deviceis an earphone in step 206. If the determination result of step 206shows that the connected connection device is the earphone, a speaker ofthe earphone and a built-in microphone of the portable terminal areactivated in step 210, so that the output audio signal is output throughthe speaker of the earphone and the input audio signal is receivedthrough the built-in microphone.

If the determination result of step 206 shows that the connectedconnection device is not the earphone but a headset, the speaker andmicrophone of the headset are activated so that the audio signal isinput/output through the ear microphone.

Although it has been described in FIG. 2 that the earphone and theheadset are connected, the earphone described in FIG. 2 may be awireless earphone, and the headset may be a wireless headset.

According to the present invention, an apparatus and method is providedin which a microphone of a portable terminal is controlled such that,when a call connection event occurs for call reception/origination inthe portable terminal connected with an earphone without a microphone,an output audio signal is output to the connected earphone and an inputaudio signal is received through a built-in microphone of the portableterminal. Therefore, a call can be made without having to disconnect theearphone from the portable terminal, thereby providing convenience tousers.

While the invention has been shown and described with reference tocertain embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled inthe art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims and their equivalents. Therefore, the scope ofthe invention is defined not by the detailed description of theinvention but by the appended claims and their equivalents, and alldifferences within the scope will be construed as being included in thepresent invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An electronic device comprising: a built-inmicrophone; a device detector configured to: detect whether a wiredexternal device coupled to the electronic device and including a wiredexternal speaker further includes a wired external microphone, andprovide a signal indicating whether the wired external device includesthe wired external microphone; and a controller electrically coupled tothe device detector, the controller, upon detecting a callestablishment, being configured to: operate the built-in microphone toreceive a voice sound if the signal from the device detector indicatesthat the wired external device does not include the wired externalmicrophone, and provide a voice signal received from a second electronicdevice to the wired external device so that the wired external speakeroutputs the voice signal, wherein the built-in microphone and thebuilt-in speaker are coupled to the controller via a COder-DECoder(CODEC).
 2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the controllerdetects the call establishment while a music audio signal is beingprovided to the wired external device, and the controller, upondetecting the call establishment, stops providing the music audio signalto the wired external device.
 3. The electronic device of claim 1,further comprising a Bluetooth communication module wirelessly coupledto a wireless external device via a Bluetooth connection, the Bluetoothcommunication module being configured to provide an audio signal to thewireless external device.
 4. The electronic device of claim 3, whereindetecting the call establishment includes accepting a call, and wherein,upon accepting the call while the wired external device and the wirelessexternal device are coupled to the electronic device, the controller isfurther configured to select one of the wired external device and thewireless external device, and provide the voice signal received from thesecond electronic device to the selected one of the wired externaldevice and the wireless external device.
 5. The electronic device ofclaim 4, wherein if the selected one of the wired external device andthe wireless external device does not include the external wiredmicrophone and does not include a wireless external microphone, thecontroller is further configured to operate the built-in microphone toreceive the voice sound.
 6. The electronic device of claim 4, whereinthe selection of the one of the wired external device and the wirelessexternal device is performed according to a predetermined priority. 7.The electronic device of claim 1, wherein detecting the callestablishment includes accepting a call.
 8. The electronic device ofclaim 1, further comprising a socket, wherein the device detector iselectrically coupled to the socket, and wherein the device detectordetects that the wired external device is coupled to the electronicdevice when the wired external device is coupled to the socket.
 9. Anelectronic device, comprising: a built-in microphone; a Bluetoothcommunication module configured to: detect whether a wireless externaldevice including a wireless external speaker further includes a wirelessexternal microphone, and provide a signal indicating whether thewireless external device coupled to the electronic device includes thewireless external microphone; and a controller electrically coupled tothe Bluetooth communication module, the controller, upon detecting acall establishment, being configured to: operate the built-in microphoneto receive a voice sound if the signal from the Bluetooth communicationmodule indicates that the wireless external device does not include thewireless external microphone, and provide a voice signal received from asecond electronic device to the wireless external device so that thewireless external device outputs the voice signal via the wirelessexternal speaker included in the wireless external device.
 10. Theelectronic device of claim 9, wherein the controller detects the callestablishment while a music audio signal is being provided to thewireless external device, and the controller, upon detecting the callestablishment, stops providing the music audio signal to the wirelessexternal device.
 11. The electronic device of claim 9, furthercomprising a connector coupled to a wired external device, an audiosignal is provided to the wired external device through the connector.12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein detecting the callestablishment includes accepting a call, and wherein, upon accepting thecall while the wireless external device and the wired external deviceare coupled to the electronic device, the controller is furtherconfigured to select one of the wireless external device and the wiredexternal device, and provide the voice signal received from the secondelectronic device to the selected one of the wireless external deviceand the wired external device.
 13. The electronic device of claim 10,wherein if the selected one of the wireless external device and thewired external device does not include the external wireless microphoneand does not include a wired external microphone, the controller isfurther configured to operate the built-in microphone to receive thevoice sound.
 14. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein theselection of the one of the wireless external device and the wiredexternal device is performed according to a predetermined priority. 15.A method implemented in an electronic device comprising: detecting, by adevice detector, whether a wired external device coupled to theelectronic device and including a wired external speaker furtherincludes a wired external microphone; providing a signal, by the devicedetector, indicating whether the wired external device includes thewired external microphone; detecting, by a controller, a callestablishment; and operating, by the controller, a built-in microphoneto receive a voice sound if the signal from the device detectorindicates that the wired external device does not include the wiredexternal microphone and providing a voice signal received from a secondelectronic device to the wired external device so that the wiredexternal speaker outputs the voice signal, wherein the built-inmicrophone and a built-in speaker of the electronic device are coupledto the controller via a COder-DECoder (CODEC).
 16. The method of claim15, wherein detecting the call establishment by the controller isperformed while a music audio signal is being provided to the wiredexternal device and the controller, upon detecting the callestablishment, stops providing the music audio signal to the wiredexternal device.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprisingproviding an audio signal to a wireless external device wirelesslycoupled to the electronic device via a Bluetooth connection.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein detecting, by the controller, the callestablishment includes accepting a call, wherein, upon accepting thecall while the wired external device and the wireless external deviceare coupled to the electronic device, the method further comprisesselecting one of the wired external device and the wireless externaldevice, and providing the voice signal received from the secondelectronic device to the selected one of the wired external device andthe wireless external device.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein, ifthe selected one of the wired external device and the wireless externaldevice does not include the wired external microphone and does notinclude a wireless external microphone, the method further comprisesoperating the built-in microphone to receive the voice sound.
 20. Themethod of claim 18, wherein the selection of the one of the wiredexternal device and the wireless external device is performed accordingto a predetermined priority.
 21. A method implemented in an electronicdevice, comprising: detecting, by a Bluetooth communication module,whether a wireless external device coupled to the electronic deviceincludes a wireless external microphone; providing a signal, by theBluetooth communication module, indicating whether the wireless externaldevice coupled to the electronic device includes the wireless externalmicrophone; detecting, by a controller, a call establishment; andoperating, by the controller, a built-in microphone to receive a voicesound if the signal from the Bluetooth communication module indicatesthat the wireless external device does not include the wireless externalmicrophone and providing a voice signal received from a secondelectronic device to the wireless external device so that the wirelessexternal device outputs the voice signal via the wired external speakerincluded in the wireless external device.
 22. The method of claim 21,wherein detecting the call establishment by the controller is performedwhile a music audio signal is being provided to the wireless externaldevice and the controller, upon detecting the call establishment, stopsproviding the music audio signal to the wireless external device. 23.The method of claim 21, further comprising providing the audio signal tothe wired external device.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein detectingby the controller the call establishment includes accepting a call andwherein, upon accepting the call while the wireless external device andthe wired external device are coupled to the electronic device, themethod further comprises selecting one of the wireless external deviceand the wired external device, and providing the voice signal receivedfrom the second electronic device to the selected one of the wiredexternal device and the wireless external device.
 25. The method ofclaim 24, wherein, if the selected one of the wireless external deviceand the wired external device does not include the external wiredmicrophone and does not include a wireless external microphone, themethod further comprises operating the built-in microphone to receivethe voice sound.
 26. The method of claim 24, wherein the selection ofthe one of the wireless external device and the wired external device isperformed according to a predetermined priority.